Chandigarh suburb celebrates Oscar for Zero Dark Thirty

Feb 26, 2013, 01.59AM ISTTNN[ Alkesh Sharma ]

CHANDIGARH: Barely two hours after Paul NJ Ottosson walked up to receive the Oscar for sound editing for 'Zero Dark Thirty' in Los Angeles on Monday, half way around the globe a woman ran around the market in Chandigarh's Manimajra distributing samosa and chai free to celebrate.

Business boomed at her little chai shop when 'Zero Dark Thirty' crew shot there, turning the market into an Abottabad bazaar which was an important part of the film on the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Around 11 am when shop-keepers began opening shutters they knew that the film had won the Oscar with Skyfall in the sound editing category which was awarded at 8.45 am India time.

"We did good business when the movie was being shot with crew members, locals actors in the film and visitors who came to watch thronged our shop for samosas, chai and mineral water bottles," she said, not wanting to be named.

"Though it's a Hollywood film, we are all overjoyed with its success as we feel an integral part of the film. Though it was shot a year ago, the memories are fresh. I remember how one morning we found the place transformed. Many could not recognize their own shop. It seems like the film has become a part of our lives," said chai-shop woman's husband Navdeep Kamboj.

While Zero Dark 30 got five nominations, it managed only one shared Oscar. But that could hardly keep Manimajra traders from celebrating.

"How many Oscars and which category do not matter to us. The fact that a film shot in this area has clinched an award is good reason for us to feel proud and happy. My family members and friends came over to watch the ceremony at my shop," said Chander Kant Sachdev, who runs a clothes shop.

"It's as much our film as Hollywood's," said Rahul Gupta, another trader. "We celebrated the Oscar by having cold drinks at my shop. We hope that this would draw more film makers to this area," Gupta added.

Oscar-winning Hollywood director Kathryn Bigelow chose Manimajra and its surroundings in Punjab to depict the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad - where al-Qaida mentor Laden was shot dead by US special forces in May 2011.

It had come as a surprise for many shop keepers when shooting commenced in March last year with their shops displaying boards in Urdu and burkha-clad women with men in skull caps and pathani suits milling around.

Now, it's a cause of celebration for most traders who even want it to be dubbed in Hindi. "There are many who are not comfortable with English and have not watched the film yet. Its Hindi version will be a big success," said Mahipal Sinha, a local trader.